Author's Notes:

1. The Order of Mercy is Mandy's creation, and you can read her awesome story here. I am incredibly grateful that she's allowed me to borrow it for my little universe.

2. The second part of this chapter is NSFW.

~EA

First Fight

Monday— August 18, 1997

Alicia had a two week break between the end of summer rotations and the start of the fall term for her second year in the Healer program, and she was immensely grateful for it. She wasn't sure how she wouldhave coped with all the negative news otherwise.

The fact that Karen's mother had been imprisoned and Karen's father's job was being held over his head in retaliation was sickening. On Sunday evening, while Karen was visiting her father, Kenneth stopped by the twins's flat and confided to his former classmates that Karen had alternated between crying and staring numbly at the wall for the entire weekend, and he felt awful that he couldn't do anything for her. He had suggested they move in with her father, but Mr. Pickford specifically asked them not to, in an effort to avoid drawing attention to Karen, who was a half-blood.

To make matters worse, Alicia's parents still weren't listening to her or Dory about the direness of the situation, and Alicia and Angelina's worries about Katie were mounting with each passing day. Katie had told her parents what was happening, which wasn't the news they wanted to hear after she'd been in a coma for the better part of the past school year. The idea that she might be targeted because she had no traceable wizarding ancestry was terrifying to them.

Of course, ultimately, it was Oliver who came up with the answer on how to protect Katie, just as Alicia had known he would.

The Monday evening after Karen's mother was imprisoned, Angelina returned to the flat from practice looking grim. As soon as she was in the door and Alicia had replaced the protective charms, Angelina said in a disgusted voice, "Well, I've been promoted."

"That doesn't sound good," Alicia remarked, eyeing her warily.

"No." Angelina sighed and dropped her Quidditch gear on the floor. "Our two muggle-born players were arrested this morning during practice: one of our Chasers and a reserve Chaser. Which means I've been bumped to the actual team."

"Oh, Ang…" Alicia winced. She knew Angelina would have never wanted to get promoted to the actual team under such awful circumstances.

"I suspect the same thing happened across the League," Angelina went on hollowly. "Puddlemere'sKeeper is muggle-born. Ten galleons says Ollie got promoted, too."

"Damn it, no…" Alicia's shoulders dropped. That was the last thing Oliver needed right now: getting promoted because a muggle-born teammate had been imprisoned.

"My guess is they took every muggle-born player in the League at the same time today. Because if they had only taken one or two teams' players, the other teams would catch wind of it and then the other muggle-born players could potentially escape. And you know Umbridge would never allow that to happen."

Alicia closed her eyes. Unfortunately, Angelina was absolutely right about that. The whole war was just getting worse and worse by the day, and it didn't seem like there was any way they could stop the other side from winning.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and both girls had their wands out before they thought twice.

Angelina called out sharply, "Who is it?"

"Oliver Wood," his voice snapped out. "I brought you onto the Gryffindor team when you were a second-year. You outfleweveryone at the bloody try-outs despite being only twelve-years-old, though to be fair, you turned thirteen in late October. I made Spinnetreserve that year. The next year, Katie was a second-year and she bloody well scored twice against me in try-outs. Are you going to open the fucking door, Johnson, or should I keep going?"

Angelina had already started reversing the charms even before Oliver was halfway through this tirade, and a few moments later, he stepped into the kitchen. He looked at Angelina and asked darkly,"Did you get promoted, too?"

She nodded and sighed. "They took both of our muggle-born players this morning. How many did Puddlemere lose?"

"Four total between the main team and the reserve team. As I'm sure you've guessed, I'm now Puddlemere's official Keeper," he growled. "And I'd rather fucking not be under the circumstances. We have a plan, though."

Alicia's brow furrowed. "Puddlemere has a plan?"

Oliver shook his head. "No. Fleur Weasley. She has a plan to get muggle-borns out of the country. Katie and Catriona will be the first to go. We need to move fast. Both of their names have come up for the Commission."

Angelina swore angrily and Alicia tried, unsuccessfully, to tamp down her fury and her fear at the same time. Of course Umbridge would call up a woman who had lost her husband and a brother-in-law only four months earlier, and who had an infant son! And Katie, too! Probably because Katie had been a member of the Gryffindor team! But they needed to focus on more important things. Oliver was right: Catriona and Katie needed to get out, and fast, or Umbridge would have them both in Azkaban.

"What is the idea?" Alicia demanded.

Oliver said, "Fleur has a fancy name for it— the Order of Mercy. Personally, I don't care what she calls it as long as it saves some lives. The idea is to get as many muggle-borns out as we can without drawing too much suspicion. We have an inside source at the Ministry of Magic willing to obtain the names on the upcoming lists before the invitations are actually sent out. Straight from Umbridge's office."

Alicia and Angelina's eyes widened and they stared at him. After a few seconds, Alicia sputtered, "Are you kidding? That's…"

"Suicidal is the word I think you're looking for?" Angelina supplied, her eyebrows at her hairline in surprise.

Oliver crossed his arms as he so often did when he was being particularly stubborn, and he countered doggedly, "Not if he's careful."

"Careful? Oliver!" Alicia could feel heranxiety skyrocketing. "That's beyond dangerous! Like Angie said! Anyone caught sneaking into her office to get those names would be tortured at the least, and very likelykilled instead! Death Eaters are running the bloody Ministry, damn it! Who the hell would be insane enough to sneak into Umbridge's office to steal that information from under her very nose? Even Fred and George wouldn't be that reckless!"

Oliver flushed dully. "Never mind," he muttered. "He's going to be careful, though. He's got a good cover."

And suddenly, it occurred to Alicia just who wouldbe insane enough— or rather, who would be bloody Gryffindor enough— to sneak into Umbridge's office, and who also had a good cover for doing so: Someone who felt they needed to prove something to get back in the good graces of their family. Someone who had been Oliver's best bloody mate for and Angelina exchanged one glance between them, and that was all they needed to do. They bothknew who Oliver meant.

Angelina rounded on him and snarled, "Oliver Robert Wood. Are. You both. Insane?"

Alicia blurted, "We thought he didn't believe Dumbledore!"

Oliver frowned at them. "Of course he does, he just…made a couple of mistakes, that's all. I don't give a fuck what the twins say. He's my best mate, and I'd trust him with my life. He's a Gryffindor too, you know. He's not afraid and he's damned well aware of the risks. He wants to help. He hates what's happening. He can get us the names, and if he can get us the names, we can get them out of the country. One of Fleur's friends— little witch named Audrey Sprayberry— she'sgoing to help by setting up portkeys for us. We just have to convince the muggle-borns to get out."

"We?" Angelina's eyebrows contracted.

"Aye." Oliver finally gave them a small, defiant smile. "We, Johnson."

Angelina and Alicia looked at each other again, and both sighed. Reading each other's minds was easy when they had been roommates for eight years and teammates for five; it wasn't as if they needed Legilimency to pull it off.

Alicia muttered sardonically,"Guess this makes us insane and possibly suicidal too, doesn't it?"

"Bloody fuck. It does, doesn't it?" Angelina groaned and ran her hands over her braids.

Despite that, Alicia steeled herself and met Oliver's gaze squarely. "Alright. What do we do, Oliver?"

"Knew you two would understand." He nodded once before he went on, "First, it has to remain absolutely secret. And you cannot tell anyonewho the spy at the Ministry is, got it?" At that, he glowered.

Anyone else would have backed away; Angelina and Alicia just glared at him and stood their ground.

"Do you reallythink we would?" Angelina demanded, matching his look with a fierce scowl of her own.

Oliver grimaced at her expression. "Sorry, Johnson. I know you wouldn't. I just… I don't want him to get killed either, you know. He's like a brother to me." At that, he looked away for a moment.

Alicia knew he was thinking about Dougal and Fergus. He didn't want to lose Percy like he'd lost his real , she said,"We know, Ollie."

"And it's not just that," Oliver went on. "You two know how the twins are."

Both girls winced. Yes, they did the twins found out…well, there was no telling how that would go over. They currently hated their third brother, and Alicia wasn't sure if even this would put him back in Fred and George's good graces. Hopefully it would, but who knew?

"We understand," Angelina said.

Oliver nodded again. "Okay. So, here's how this is going to work…"

Much later that night, Alicia sat at the kitchen table alone, turning over a little notebook in her hands. Oliver had given her and Angelina each a notebook and explained how they worked; how Fleur could use the linked notebooks to contact them and vice versa, and how she would send them the upcoming names so they could safely get muggle-borns out of the country. Due to their jobs and Alicia's schoolwork, they would only be able to help muggle-borns in the evening hours, but it was better than nothing. They had already sent Fleur messages through the notebooks to let her know they would help as much as they could, and Fleur had responded back to thank them. Surprisingly, Percy also wrote back to thank them.

Helping muggle-borns wasn't what was bothering Alicia, though. She could walk up to someone's house, defend herself if they threw a few hexes her way, and try to talk a muggle-born into fleeing the country. She could even fight if Death Eaters showed up, though it would terrify her.

No, the hard part…

Alicia swallowed. The hard part was infinitely harder. And worse.

A quiet knock on the door broke the silence. Alicia's heart nearly burst out of her chest. Angelina had gone to bed an hour ago at ten, and Alicia had specifically asked her to place some charms around her room to block all sound. Because Alicia had a feeling this was probably going to be the first real fight she and Adrian Pucey had in their relationship, and she definitely wasn't looking forward to it.

"Who is it?" she called nervously through the door.

"Ty," he answered.

That was part of a code they had created between themselves when the Ministry fell— instead of using his given name, he used an abbreviated version of his middle name. It sounded a little odd to Alicia's ears, but she didn't want anyone to be hiding in the alley and overhear his real name.

"How doI like my tea?" she asked.

"Black, two sugars, cream. How do I like mine?"

"Black, one sugar, cream."

She opened the door.

He stepped in quickly and immediately began re-casting the protective charms. Alicia wrapped her arms around herself and waited on tenterhooks for him to finish. She hadn't even dressed provocatively tonight because she knew it would do no good once he found out what she and Angelina had agreed to do. If they were going to fight, they may as well go at it without any distractions.

After a few seconds, he finished with the wards, sighed, turned around, and leaned against the door with his eyes closed. He looked tired, which made her telling him about her decision all the more difficult. He had spent the day running potions and other supplies to the safehouses that he and Remus Lupin had set up,preparing each space for when it would be needed. And with the way things were currently headed, the safehouses would likelybe needed very soon. Adrian had told her it would take some time to make sure everything was well hidden and secure, and he would be late that evening. He had been right.

He finally pushed off the door and looked at her. For a moment, she saw the confusion in his eyes as he took in the fluffy bathrobe and the socks she was wearing. She also had on a pair of cotton shorts and a t-shirt, though both were covered up. Normally, she met him at the door in something far more revealing, and normally, she had already kissed him before now.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

Alicia felt her chest tighten, and she nodded, then shook her head. "Yes. No? I mean… Oh, Godric, this is harder than I thought," she moaned, raking her hands through her long hair.

Warily, he asked, "What's harder than you thought?"

"I… I need to tell you something. And you're going to be angry, I know you are." Alicia swallowed.

Adrian's eyebrows rose. "Are you…breaking up with me?" he asked in an odd voice. She noticed his hands clench at his sides.

For a split second, she remembered something Bess had told her back in June:Even Adrian can doubt himself, despite his confidence.

She laughed softly, almost hysterically. "Are you kidding? Of course not! I'm crazy about you, Adrian! Why on earth would I break up with you?"

She noticed that he relaxed just slightly, but his brow furrowed again. "Then I don't understand what's going on. Why would I be mad at you?"

She took a deep breath and twisted her hands together. She'd been trying to figure out how to explain this for over five hours, ever since Oliver had left them to meet Katie and her parents, to explain to Mr. and Mrs. Bell that he was going to move Katie to the continent in less thanthirty-six hours to protect her from arrest and imprisonment. Angelina and Alicia would see Katie briefly the next evening; then she would spend the night with Oliver and wake before dawn to take a portkey to Fleur's parents' chateau.

"Alicia." Adrian suddenly took her hands, his body coming up close to hers. "Just tell me."

He was gentlystroking the backs of her hands with his thumbs, trying to calm her nerves. His own hands were slender, but firm and strong, and his body was lean and tall and solid. Alicia took a shaky breath and steadied herself. She couldn't cry just yet.

"Angelina and I… we've decided to do something to help the muggle-borns who are being called up by the Commission," she admitted.

There was a long silence. When she dared to glance up at him, she saw his gaze had narrowed, but he hadn't released her hands, though his thumbs had stilled.

Alicia plunged on. "It was Fleur Weasley's idea. She can smuggle muggle-borns out to France using portkeys."

He still didn't say slowly twisted her hands in his,because his silence was unnerving her. It meant he was definitely getting angry, and she couldn't really blame him. She was just about to pull away when he gently squeezed her fingers, encouraging her to continue.

She took another breath. "Oliver is involved, too. Actually, it was Oliver who asked us if we would help. Because he knew Angie and I would. The three of us are going to go to the muggle-borns who are next on Umbridge's list, and try to convince them to leave the country via the portkeys."

"And how will you know who's next on the list?" he asked.

She found she couldn't read anything in his tone. In fact, toher dismay, it was that polite voice he had so often used at Hogwarts when he was acting a part that wasn't really him. She hated when he used that tone, when he wore that mask, because it wasn't him. That meant he was angry.

Alicia swallowed and pushed the panic down. "Oliver has a good friend at the Ministry. He found out that Oliver's sister-in-law was on Umbridge's list for this week, and he was able to warn Oliver. Going forward, that person will secretly sneak into Umbridge's office each week to collect the next set of names and route them to Fleur, and Fleur is going to route them to me, Angelina, and Oliver via a set of enchanted notebooks…"

Adrian's lip curled slightly and, as though he couldn't help it, he muttered, "Must be a bloody Gryffindor to have those kinds of bollocks. You do realize that'ssuicidal, right? Sneaking into Umbridge's office at the fucking Ministry right now?"

She ignored him and hurried to finish what she'd started. "The first two muggle-borns will leave the country tomorrow night. Catriona Wood and… Katie Bell," she whispered.

With that, she finally pulled her hands out of his and buried her face in them. She couldn't look at him right that second; she was terrified of seeing the anger in his face. She had only seen him angry once or twice, but this was something far more serious than anything that had happened when they'd been at Hogwarts. The idea of Adrian breaking up with her was horrible; she couldn't bear it. She didn't know what she would do if he broke up with her. She loved him, damn it, and she hadn't even mustered the courage to tell him yet because the time never seemed right! That, and they had only officially been together for two months…! She'd been trying to ignore how she felt, but now, all of a sudden, the realization of her own feelings hit her full force. She loved him and she had agreed to help Oliver without considering Adrian's feelings on the matter. What if he had done the same to her? She would be just as livid. He had every right to be furious with her…!

He was silent for several long, agonizing seconds before he finallygroaned, "Damn it, are you serious, Alicia?" He turned to pace the room and fumed, "Bloody fucking Gryffindors. You lot are the most reckless, irritating…! I would have to fall in love with abloody Gryffindor, wouldn't I?Spinnet, do you have any ideahow dangerousthis is?"

Alicia stiffened; out of that entire tirade, only one thing had really registered in her head. Hardly daring to breathe, sheasked, "What did you say?"

"I said," he repeated—and there was definitely a touch more bite to his voice now, "do you have any damn idea how fucking dangerousthis is?"

"No, not that! B-before that? What did you say before that?"

He went very still.

"Please," she whispered. "Did you mean it?"

After a long pause, he muttered, "Damn it, Alicia, of course I meant it, but that was nothow I intended to tell you! Not when I'm angry and trying to process what the hell you've decided to do, without even telling me—!"

"I didjust tell you!" she said, exasperated. "That's why I waited up for you!"

"No," he argued furiously, glaring at her, "you made a huge, dangerous decision without me—!"

"I had to make it quickly!" Damp heat burned at the corners of her eyes. "This is happening so fast— they're sending them to Azkaban! You knowthat! You said just the other evening that Remus told you that; he heard it from Kingsley! My parents are going to end up on that list at some point! Karen's mother was taken away on Friday! And Katie… oh God, Adrian, I can't lose Katie!" With that, she finally burst into tears. "She's one of my best friends! It's always been me and Angie and Katie! I have to do something!I can't just sit by and do nothing, Adrian!"

He tilted his head back, raked his hands into his hair, and groaned. "Spinnet, you're literallyputting your very life in danger! Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? Do you have any ideawhat would happen if Death Eaters found out and—?"

Something about that made her mad, and she cut him off as annoyance stirred in her gut. "You put your life in danger, too," she reminded him angrily. "Scouting safehouses and helping Kenneth and who knows what else! Bloody hell, Adrian! Just a year ago, you were reading the minds of Death Eaters at society events, remember? Wasn't that just as dangerous? And it's not as if you told me you were going to do that! You made that decision without me! Damn it, Adrian, you disappeared for six months before we started communicating again!"

"That's…" He trailed off before he finished the statement.

"You're right, that is different," she snapped, her fury getting the better of her. "Dumbledore told you not to tell me, so instead of staying in touch with me and just telling me you couldn't confide in me, you completely cut me out of your life! I didn't think I would ever see you again! But now we're finally together, and I am telling youwhat I've decided to do! I didn't just walk out and disappear and leave you wondering what the hell happened!"

Again, he began to pace the kitchen while running his hands into his hair out of frustration. Thatwas more like him, she thought. She'd rather see him doing that than putting on that polite mask she hated so much.

"Damn it, Alicia!" He finally turned and looked at her, and the mask was completely gone. She could see the stark fear in his eyes, a panic she'd never seen in him before, and it was a little chilling. She'd never seen Adrian so undone, not even when she'd pestered him at Hogwarts to get a reaction. He took a shaky breath before he blurted, "I don't want you to get killed! I don't think I could handle it if you were killed! And you want to go out and save muggle-borns while Snatchers and Death Eaters could be closing in on you from every side, and —!"

Something else Bess had said came to her mind:Remember, love is more than physical attraction. It's emotional, too—sotakecare of each other emotionally, as well.

Perhaps they hadn't been doing a good job of that, Alicia thought suddenly. They had been so wrapped up in the physical aspect of their relationship for the past two months that it had been easy to forget how bone-deep their emotions could run. It was easy to bury those emotions and put them aside out of lust. She'd buried how she felt about him, telling herself she was too young to be in love and it was just attraction she felt, but she'd been wrong. They both needed to stop ignoring how they really felt, starting now. Adrian, who (unlike her) was so good at hiding his emotions, was confiding in her right now— he'd just told her he loved her and he was painfully worried about losing her. She needed to tell him how she felt, too. How scared she was to lose him.

Alicia took a deep breath,swallowed, and met his eyes. "I love you too, you know," she said clearly.

At that, he froze and stared at her. The panic about her decision was still there, but she had startled him,too.

She barreled on. "Even if you didn't mean what you said,it's time I told you how I feel. I know we're both only nineteen and I've been trying really hard not to say it because I didn't want to scare you but… I am in love with you." Alicia's shoulders dropped and she said miserably, "I can't help how I feel. Whether it's being in love with you or wanting to save muggle-borns before Umbridge sends them to Azkaban… maybe I'm too emotional, but I feeleverything so deeply! Isn't it just like how you knew you wanted to stand against the war, too? You just knew you wanted to do something, and when Dumbledore offered you the chance, you took it…!"

"…because I wanted to try and stop it," he whispered. He closed his eyes tightly and tilted his head back. After a long moment, hefaltered, "Alicia. I meant what I said. Ilove you, too. And I'm also absolutely terrified of losing you, and that scares me even more. You have no idea how much that scares me!"

She wiped the tearstains from her cheeks with the palms of her hands. "Of course it scares you. If I'mhonest, itscares me witless to think I'm in love at nineteen! Or that I'd go to pieces if I lost you!"

He leaned against the counter, but facing her. His head was still tilted back, and his hands gripped the formica behind him so that his knuckles turned white. Alicia realized, abruptly, that he was trying not to cry. She hurried forward, wrapped her arms around his waist, and leaned against his chest again. After a moment his arms snaked around her and his cheek fell on top of her head. She remembered the first time he had rested his cheek on top of her head, and she let out a breath of amusement through the tears.

"What's so funny?" he murmured. "Because I'm not seeing anything funny, 'Licia."

"The first time you ever put your head on top of mine," she said softly, her fingers twisting in his shirt. "When we were at Hogwarts. Merlin, it took my very breath away. It seemed like every time you touched me back then, my heart always beat sohard that I was sure you could hear it." She released one of her hands,reached behind her,took one of his hands, and pulled it around to press it under her bathrobe, against her chest. "It still does,if I'm honest. Godric, I feel like everyone can hear it."

"Do you remember Boxing Day in sixth-year?" Adrian asked, smiling wistfully down at her. She could see a couple of tears in his long lashes and she could feel the heat of his palm through her t-shirt. She bit her lip as the delicious, familiar tingling sensation burst between her legs, just from his touch.

He went on softly, "When we both reached for the sugar bowl at the same time and our fingers brushed together and we both got nervous?Salazar, I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest." He twisted their hands around and pressed her palm to his chest,instead. His heartbeat was strong and solid, and her fingers curled into his shirt.

Alicia drew a shaky breath and focused on her fingers. "I'm sorry I made a decision without you. Going forward… we should probably make decisions together, shouldn't we?"

He nodded slowly. "We should. I know you're going to do this regardless, even if it scares me out of my mind. When I can,I'll go with you—Disillusioned, of course— to make sure you don't get killed."

She swallowed. "How do you think I would feel if you got killed, though?"

"Probably as torn apart as I would feel."

She looked up at him again and met his eyes evenly. "We won't be able to save everyone. But I suppose a few people are better than none at all."

He nodded.

Alicia sighed and added, "I hate feeling like I can't do anything, like my actions aren't making a difference."

"I told Towler the same thing a few months ago. He reminded me that was how he felt all through our seventh-year, against Umbridge. I can't imagine how he feels right now, knowing Pickford's mum was sent to Azkaban. He's probably about to go spare. Actually," he amended, frowning, "he probably wants to murder Umbridge. And I wouldn't put it past him if he ever got the chance. I've never known anyone to hate someone as much as Towler hates Umbridge."

"I don't want anyone else to live the hell Karen and her father are living right now," Alicia whispered. "And Kenneth, too, because I know he worries about her. Even if I can't help everyone, I'll do what little I can."

Adrian was quiet for a moment. Then he said softly, "When I agreed to help Dumbledore, I didn't tell my parents initially. In fact, I didn't tell them until October of last year. Mum was lividat first. But Dad said something to me that stuck with me."

"Oh?"

"Basically, if no one stands up against the Dark Lord, then the Dark Lord will definitely win."

Alicia closed her eyes and leaned against him. "Yourfather is right."

"It surprised me," he admitted. "Dad's more of a Slytherin than I ever was, and that wasn't what I expected him to say."

"I'm starting to think Slytherin House has a lot of nuances that Gryffindors don't always consider," Alicia said thoughtfully, glancing up at him again.

He smiled back at her. "All the houses do, I expect. Even though right now, I do rather hate the lot of you for being so damn reckless, you know. Come on. It's been a long day for both of us, and we're both exhausted. Let's go to bed."

"Actually…" Alicia slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and gave him a sultry look.

He groaned. "Alicia.We're both knackered. Physically and emotionally."

"I know," she said quickly. "I didn't mean tonight. But the next time we…" She trailed off and blushed. "What I mean is, the next time,instead of shagging… I want youto make love to me. Instead."

Adrian's eyes changed just slightly; she heard the hitch in his breathing.

"Oh?" he asked, trying to sound off-hand and failing.

Alicia nodded and bit her lip as she held his gaze. "The past two months, we've done an awful lot of shagging, and it's been bloody wonderful. But… we haven't actually made love yet, have we? Because we haven't admitted we loved each other until tonight."

He smiled slowly; that slightly cocky, playful smile she adored. "I suppose we haven't. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not quite as knackered as I thought I was, Spinnet…"

Alicia laughed. "I had a feeling you weren't, Pucey," she said, and she stood on her toes to kiss him. When he kissed her back, she felt the rest of the tension melt out of her body.

Wednesday— August 20, 1997

Two mornings later, Alicia woke at five o'clock, unable to go back to sleep because she knew Katie was escaping to France within the next hour. It was horrible that Katie and Oliver had only had a month and a couple of weeks together before the war tore them apart, but at least Katie would be safe by breakfast.

Alicia and Angelina had spent the previous afternoon and early evening with the youngest Chaser, reminiscing and sharing stories, laughing and crying and oftentimes both, before they had hugged her goodbye and allowed Oliver to Apparate her safely to his flat for the night. Oliver would also see her to Bill and Fleur's place — probably right about now, if Alicia had to guess. They had to leave before dawn, because Percy needed to be at work on time at the Ministry. And as soon as the portkey took Katie away, Oliver would send a Patronus to let Alicia and Angelina know she was safe.

She rolled onto her side and looked at Adrian. He was still asleep, his face relaxed as it never was when he was awake these days, and in the darkness she could see his long lashes against his cheeks. Merlin, he was so incredibly sexy.

Despite their argument about her decision to help save muggle-borns two evenings ago, that night had been the most amazing night of their relationship so far. Or, perhaps it had actually been because of their fight, she thought. If they hadn't fought, they wouldn't have admitted they loved each they had gotten into her bedroom, Adrian had taken his time stripping them both down. It had certainly not been a rushed, frantic, desperate shag like their first time—though that had absolutely been incredible and lovely, too.

Instead, he had set about to memorize her body all over again. He'd been so attentive, so careful, and yet also incredibly intense and a little bit devious—because Adrian was downright playful when he let his full guard down—and Alicia loved that she was probably the only person who got to see that particular side of him. Ithad been nearly two in the morning before they finally fell asleep, which made Alicia all the more grateful she was on a short break before fall term started.

He would wake soon though, so after a few moments, she carefully slid out of bed, went to the loo, and brushed her teeth while she was at it. Sure enough, five minutes later she passed him in the hall when she came back out— he was wearing boxers and she was in a long t-shirt and knickers because Angelina was right: if the news kept getting worse, they both needed to have some modesty in case Ang had to burst in on them again.

Hopefully Angelinawouldn't burst in on them today, though. Alicia crawled back under the counterpane and stripped her t-shirt off, sliding against the spot where Adrian normally slept because it was still warm and it smelled like his cologne,and damn, but she loved that smell. A year and a half ago, she'd never dreamed hervery sheets would smell like that. She pressed her legs together just thinking about him.

When he got back, she smiled at him from where she was lying on her side, facing the door, and bit her lip."It's still early," she whispered. "Come back to bed, love?"

Despite the darkness, she could see the hooded expression in his eyes as he stripped his pants off and crawled back into bed, pinning her as he did so. Alicia shifted her legs so he was between them, ran her hands over his shoulders, and sighed as he sank against her.

The truth was, even before their revelation of two nights ago, Alicia knew she absolutely loved sex. She'd realized just how much she loved it the night of Bess and Conall's wedding, really. It didn't matter what time of the day or night, what position, or where they went at it— the fact was, she fuckingloved it. She loved the way Adrian was all hard, firm muscle against her body, the way he felt inside of her, and the way his hips rolledjust rightinto hers, the way his pubic bone put pressure on her clitoris exactly the right way. She loved the way the line of black hair on his lower abdomen felt against the soft skin of her stomach, and she loved the way his chest felt against her breasts. She loved his figure, especially when he was nude. He wore clothes like a model, but damn, he lookedsofucking fit when he was naked: lean but muscled, with strong thighs and calves, corded biceps, and those abs. Like he had been carved out of marble. She loved the way he held her afterwards and the way he lazily nuzzled and kissed her once they were done.

But Aliciaespeciallyloved morning sex. There was just something about having a romp (whether quick or slow) before facing the day that relaxed her in a way nothing else did.Merlin, it was bloody wonderful.

She started by kissing him— slow, dragging kisses as he settled against her and ran his hands down her body. Her legs came up around his hips and one of his hands went down the side of her thigh, cupping her arse.

"You should have gotten out of the knickers," he mumbled against her mouth,his fingers flirting under the hem on her leg. "When you leave them on, it makes me want to rip them off of you."

She gave him a sultry, lazy, sleepy smile. "Well, you're buying them now, so I don't care if you rip them."

"Do you think I'm minted or something?"

"I know you're minted." She dragged her left foot down his arse, and giggled when he swore. She met his eyes and smiled. "Oliver's Patronus is probably going to burst in here any minute, so we should make this a bit quicker."

Adrian smirked. "Whatever you say, love."